The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1887-03-12

How = Blg BluG Nominated
Cameron for 6OVerM0r.

to-day at the Braddock house, says
an Alexandria correspondent of the
Baltimore Herald, about Congress
man Brownies poker ability, gave
a bit of the inside history of his
unexpected nomination to the Gov
ernorship six year ago.
"When l took the field" said the
Ex-Governor, "my chances of sue
cess were very slim. The whole
party seemed to be ranged on the
side of John s. Wise, and it was
generally predicted that he would
have a safe majority on the first
ballot. Along about May, however
"a month before the convention
met in Richmond-he incurred the
displeasure of several party leaders
who came over to me. Other oc-
currences at the time added to my
strength, and when the opposing
forces came to the fray it looked as
if my opponent and carried about
the same number of votes. All the
time Mr.. Wise and l were the best
of friends. and while making a
sharp fight for the gubernatorial
nomination, no recriminations were
ever thought of. On the morning
the convention opened, a canvass
of delegates revealed the fact that
our strength was about equal. and
each side claimed the ability to
bring over enough of the doubtful
votes to secure nomination. Moth
ing was done the first day except
to appoint the committees and or
ganize the convention. This night
the committee on platform met at
the Whig Office, and all the party
leaders were present, as the result
of the campaign depended in a great
measure on the character of the
platform. Senator Malone presided
at the meeting. Mr.. Wise and /
sat side by side, while congressman
Brady and Senator Duff Green were
on the other side of the editorial
table. After all the necessary planks
had been inserted in the platform,
Senator Malone, pleased with the
work of the evening, remarked
laughingly: Now it is in order to
decide who shall be Governor Of
Virginia. Suppose you young fel
lows decide it by a game of poker.
You will find the chips and all the
necessary equipments in the edito-
rial drawer-eh, Elam?'
Everybody laughed at the joke,
while Wise and / almost said in a
breath, Bring 'em out Editor
Elan had the chips and cards on
the table in a jiffy, and we all pre-
pared for little fun. you will
take fifty chips each,' said the Sen
ator, with a mock solemnity, 'and
the man who cleans the other out
first will the next Governor of Vir-
ginia.' More laughter, in which
my rival and I joined heartily
The cards were dealt and the game
began tamely. Soon there was
sharp playing, however, as Wise
could take a hand at poker with
any man in the State, and / had
made a considerable study of the
science also. On the fifth deal
there was 20-chip jackpot, and
everybody, forgetting the humor-
Gus side Of the thing, leaned over
the table with as much eagerness
as if the governorship were really
at stake. Wise opened the pot with
thirty. / held four, five, six and
seven ofhearts and ten Of diamonds.
took a good, long look at my hand
hand considered the possibility of
getting a straight flush. i knew it
was one chance in fifty, but hated
to let that big pot go for nothing,
so / Clipped in. My rival drew
one card, and l saw his face beam
as he looked at it. Of course, l
drew one, too. Slowly l raised it
from the table. Alas it was the
nine of hearts, one spot too much
for a straight flush. l knew my
flush would be beaten on a call,
but was not bluff expedient?
While was considering thus one
of Wise 8 cards fell under my chair,
and he stopped over near to me to
pick it up. AS his head came to
the surface, l thought his eyes fell
involuntarily on my hand, but /
was not sure. Anyway that beam
had gone from his face when l
looked at him again. An idea
flashed across my mind. He had
seen nv hand, but the glance was
so hurried that he fancied he saw
a straight flush. With flourish
| I came in and raised the pot with
nv last ten. Wise threw up his
hand, and raked in the chips. 1t
was Just as l supposed. He had q
full. but was sure ! held q straight
flush. / won his remaining ten on
the next hand, and there was tre-
mendous applause. l was hailed
az the next governor of Virginia,
With many jokes and much laughter.
"After the game We went out for
refreshments. We met many of
the delegates; the story was re-